A savage attack, which left six small lambs dead, has served as a reminder for dog walkers rambling through fields containing sheep and lambs.

Lancashire police were called to a farm on the border of Burnley and Bacup earlier this month after reports of a dog attacking sheep. However, when police arrived, they discovered six small dead lambs, one dead sheep and an injured sheep, which was later destroyed by vets.

The officer attending the scene said the farmer had no other choice but to shoot the dog and added: “Dog owners should be aware that, in extreme circumstances such as this, farmers have the right to shoot any animal worrying their livestock.

“When walking on farm land, or in the countryside, dogs must be kept under control, and when walking near livestock they must be on a lead.”

Meanwhile, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has said that, although it could not give details on the frequency of such incidents or the cost to the industry, the incident was awful and it endorsed the Countryside Code.

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said: “If you’re walking with a dog please keep it on a lead when walking around livestock, but let it go if the situation demands it.”